Elon Musk's Associates Are Trying to Infiltrate Federal Payment Infrastructure, According to Allegations
Elon Musk's supposed "Department of Government Efficiency," famously known as DOGE, has reportedly been trying to get their hands on the U.S. government's payment systems, according to a bombshell report from the Washington Post. The reason for DOGE's interest is as murky as it is alarming. Experts are concerned because this kind of intervention seems to involve tampering with critical government functions without seeking approval from Congress.
The payment system in question is managed by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service and handles a smorgasbord of functions, from Social Security and Medicare payments to federal employee salaries. A staggering 1.3 billion payments worth $5.4 trillion were made via this system last year, including tax refunds.
David A. Lebryk, a senior Treasury official who's been with the agency since 1989, announced his retirement in an email to staff last Friday. Lebryk's retirement is linked to DOGE's attempts to access these payment systems, though it's unclear how he might have objected, and the exact nature of their disagreement remains undisclosed.
Interestingly, DOGE is not an official government department, but rather a creation of President Trump through an executive order on his inauguration day. The order even puts "Department of Government Efficiency" in quotes, suggesting an attempt to ward off legal challenges to Trump's attempt to create a new federal agency, a power that only Congress possesses.
Despite its controversial origin, Musk has been treating DOGE like a genuine agency, with reports suggesting his reach extends to virtually every federal agency. A recent poll indicated that only 30% of Americans support Musk's efforts with DOGE.
The specific motivations behind Musk and his associates' desire for access to the government payment system are anybody's guess. Some have speculated that it could be connected to Musk's recent deal with Visa to offer payment services on his social media platform X. The more probable reason, however, could be strategic - to manipulate or halt payments for congressionally mandated programs that Trump and Musk disapprove of.
When Trump attempted to block spending on trillions of dollars worth of health care and housing assistance programs, it attracted a wave of lawsuits from state attorneys general. A federal judge in Washington D.C. put a halt to the freeze on Tuesday, but the concern is that the U.S. court system might not have the enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance. If the executive branch under Trump and Musk could ignore congressional and judicial orders and cut off payments to disliked programs, it could spell doom for the country.
In an effort to seize the purse strings from Congress, DOGE appears to be treading dangerous waters. "Congress famously has the power of the purse," indeed, but it seems as if DOGE is attempting to snatch it.
The interest in the government's payment systems by DOGE, led by Elon Musk, could be linked to his recent partnership with Visa for payment services on X. However, some experts fear that the ultimate goal could be to manipulate or halt payments for programs disapproved by Trump and Musk, potentially bypassing Congressional and judicial authority.
With tech giants like Musk having significant influence in the realm of technology and innovation, the future of governmental financial systems could see a significant shift if DOGE's attempts to access and control these systems are successful.